Career Adaptability Process in Refugee Resettlement: The Case of Venezuelans in Colombia

Abstract

In this study, we test the theoretical model of career adaptability of refugees’ successful resettlement proposed by Campion (2018). The theoretical model is grounded on career construction and social network theory. We tested the model in a sample of 87 Venezuelans living and working in Colombia. We combined quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The quantitative results provided partial support for Campion’s model. However, an alternative model tested suggest that career adaptability has a direct relationship with subjective resettlement (i.e., life satisfaction and psychological health). In addition, cultural identification played a buffering effect on the harmful effects of discrimination on subjective resettlement. Qualitative results from eight in-deep interviews, helped to analyzed in a deeper way the process that may underlay refugee resettlement, specially the role of social networks, which are important for the migrants, but are not key for a successful work resettlement. Our study contributes to previous refugee research by testing a novel model of work resettlement focusing in a group of refugees that move from a home developing country to a host country that also is an emerging economy.